In Elites and Political Power in South Korea, Byong-Man Ahn examines problems related to Korea's political and ruling systems. He examines the Korean government in a global context and explores Korea's cultural and political matrix. The author goes on to analyze political power, political parties and the elites in terms of their contribution to the ongoing cycle of dominance. An understanding of Korean government is developed, with particular attention paid to the unique pattern of its administrative system vis-a-vis those of other systems.

This well-balanced research of theoretical arguments and empirical analysis will appeal to scholars, public officials and politicians interested in Korean affairs, and also scholars and students in the field of Korean studies. A comparative perspective of Korea's party politics and bureaucracy will be found here for those interested in East Asian affairs.